International Organ Series: David Briggs

Some of the biggest names in the organ world converge on Exeter College Chapel this season, across three extraordinary recitals as part of the International Organ Series. With the series titled French Colours, all three performers will focus on different aspects of 19th– and 20th-century French organ music – colourful and electrifying music that’s immediately appealing. 

In this first concert we’ll will be welcoming David Briggs, Artist in Residence at New York’s iconic Cathedral of St John the Divine. David will join us to celebrate Pierre Cochereau – the organist of Notre Dame, one of the most brilliant of improvisors in the history of the instrument and described by his teacher Marcel Dupré as “a phenomenon without equal”. David will play a number of his famed improvisations, happily transcribed, so we can still enjoy them 40 years on from Cochereau’s death.

This concert is produced in partnership with Exeter College. To find out more about the Exeter College organ visit their website.

Listen to David Briggs play Pierre Cochereau

Enjoy a short except below of David Briggs playing Pierre Cochereau’s improvisation on La Marseillaise. The recording was made on the Exeter College Organ and will be available to purchase at the recital.

About the Artist

‘one of the world’s greatest contemporary organists’ The New York Times

David Briggs is an internationally renowned organist whose performances are acclaimed for their musicality, virtuosity, and ability to excite and engage audiences of all ages. Consistently ranked as one of the finest organists of his generation, David’s extensive repertoire spans five centuries. He has also become one of the foremost organ transcribers of symphonic works, thereby giving listeners the opportunity to experience the organ in a new way. He has transcribed orchestral compositions by Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Bruckner, Ravel, and Bach as well as Mahler’s Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth symphonies.

Described as ‘an intrepid improviser” by Michael Barone, host of American Public Media’s Pipedreams, David also frequently performs improvisations to silent films such as Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Nosferatu, Jeanne d’Arc, Metropolis, King of Kings, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the General, and a variety of Charlie Chaplin films.

At the age of 17, David obtained his FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) diploma, winning the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. From 1981-84 he was Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge University, during which time he studied with Jean Langlais in Paris. The first British winner of the Tournemire Prize at the St Albans International Improvisation Competition, he also won the first prize in the International Improvisation Competition at Paisley. Subsequently David held positions at Hereford, Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals.

Deeply committed to ensuring organ music remains relevant and vibrant, David enjoys giving pre-concert lectures and demonstrations that help make organ music more broadly accessible. He teaches performance at Cambridge University, frequently serves on international organ competition juries, and gives masterclasses at colleges and conservatories across the US and Europe.

David performs more than 50 concerts a year at such venues across the world, and is also a prolific composer. His works range from full-scale oratorios to works for solo instruments. He has recorded two DVDs, and 37 CDs, many of which include his own compositions and transcriptions.

David is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City. For more information, Please visit:  www.david-briggs.org

Photo credits: Amir El Etr, Michael Hudson